Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Flight Instructor (Airplane) • ACS Area IX, Task A

The Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan covers the instructional knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-25.

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    0:25
    Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    0:15
    Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    0:30
    Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:
    0:20
    Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a teaching scenario in which learner safety or understanding depends on effective instruction in steep Turns.
    • Ask the instructor applicant to identify the first instructional decision that will shape the learner's outcome.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant understands steep turns, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

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Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Materials

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Review the common errors and their associated mitigations with the learner.
    • Have the learner explain how to recognize, prevent, and correct each applicable error using aircraft-specific procedures and limitations.
    • Use a scenario or observed practice error to verify the learner can select and apply the mitigation.
  • Before the lesson, review the reference materials, applicable airplane limitations, and the instructor applicant's prior lesson preparation.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • Present the attention getter and motivator.
    • Review Area of Operation IX, Task A, and the Airman Certification Standards.
    • State the lesson objective: To determine the applicant understands steep turns, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • Part 2, Instructional Knowledge:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the purpose of steep turns and teach the sequence for clearing, entry, stabilization, maintenance, rollout, and reversal. (AI.IX.A.K1)
    • Prepare the learner for changing pilot sensations and increasing control forces as bank angle and load factor increase. (AI.IX.A.K2)
    • Teach the aerodynamics associated with steep turns, including: (AI.IX.A.K3)
      • Maintaining coordinated flight (AI.IX.A.K3a)
      • Overbanking tendencies (AI.IX.A.K3b)
      • Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes (AI.IX.A.K3c)
      • Load factor and accelerated stalls (AI.IX.A.K3d)
      • Rate and radius of turn (AI.IX.A.K3e)
    • Present a concrete example, then require the learner to explain and apply recognition, prevention, and correction of common steep-turn errors. (AI.IX.A.K4)
  • Part 3, Risk Management Instruction:
    • Divide attention effectively among attitude, altitude, airspeed, bank, coordination, outside references, and orientation. (AI.IX.A.R1)
    • Mitigate collision hazards through clearing, traffic awareness, appropriate altitude and location, and continued outside scanning. (AI.IX.A.R2)
    • Select an altitude and area that provide recovery margins and prevent stall, spin, loss of control, or controlled flight into terrain. (AI.IX.A.R3)
    • Manage distractions and task prioritization while maintaining situational awareness, orientation, and aircraft control. (AI.IX.A.R4)
    • Maintain coordinated flight and recognize how skidding, slipping, or abrupt control inputs increase risk at elevated load factor. (AI.IX.A.R5)
    • Require the instructor applicant to model risk controls, intervention points, and discontinue criteria while teaching.
  • Part 4, Skill Demonstration and Teaching:
    • Clear the area before and throughout the maneuver. (AI.IX.A.S1)
    • Establish the manufacturer's recommended airspeed or, when none is published, an airspeed not exceeding maneuvering speed (VA). (AI.IX.A.S2)
    • Enter and maintain a coordinated 360° steep turn at approximately 50° of bank using appropriate pitch, power, trim, and visual references. (AI.IX.A.S3)
    • Repeat the maneuver in the opposite direction with a coordinated reversal or separate entry, as appropriate. (AI.IX.A.S4)
    • Maintain entry altitude within ±100 feet, airspeed within ±10 knots, bank within ±5°, and rollout heading within ±10°. (AI.IX.A.S5)
    • Analyze common errors, demonstrate effective corrections, and assess the applicant's ability to teach those corrections. (AI.IX.A.S6)
    • Coach simultaneous explanation, demonstration, observation, error correction, and, when airborne, positive aircraft control.
  • Part 5, Guided Teaching Scenario:
    • Lead the guided scenario.
    • Evaluate instructional organization, technical accuracy, risk management, learner engagement, and every applicable ACS element.
  • Part 6, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Review the lesson objective, instructional strengths, risk-management decisions, and items requiring additional practice.
    • Present the re-motivation and closure.
  • Update instructor records and the instructor applicant's training record, as required.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • The instructor applicant must teach a learner a lesson involving steep Turns while maintaining an organized lesson flow and an appropriate level of learner participation.
  • Require the instructor applicant to select a safe area and altitude, brief clearing and recovery criteria, and explain how division of attention, coordination, and orientation will be maintained. (AI.IX.A.R1) (AI.IX.A.R2) (AI.IX.A.R3) (AI.IX.A.R4) (AI.IX.A.R5)
  • Have the applicant teach steep turns in both directions, introduce a realistic altitude, bank, airspeed, or coordination error, and coach correction while maintaining the specified tolerances. (AI.IX.A.S1) (AI.IX.A.S2) (AI.IX.A.S3) (AI.IX.A.S4) (AI.IX.A.S5) (AI.IX.A.S6)
  • Introduce a realistic learner error, misconception, change in operating conditions, or external pressure and require the instructor applicant to adapt the lesson.
  • Conclude with a learner-centered assessment and instructor self-critique tied to the ACS knowledge, risk management, and skill elements.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Review the common errors and their associated mitigations before practice.
    • Explain the mitigation for each applicable error and identify how you will apply it during the maneuver.
    • During the debrief, identify any errors made and the correction to use on the next attempt.
  • Complete assigned readings and prepare a lesson plan with objective, content sequence, teaching aids, assessment, and completion standards.
  • Teach the applicable knowledge elements accurately and in learner-appropriate language rather than relying on rote recitation.
  • Identify, assess, mitigate, and teach the risks associated with the task.
  • Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill while maintaining positive control, observing the learner, and correcting errors appropriately.
  • Use effective questions, check learner understanding, conduct a learner-centered assessment, and perform an instructor self-assessment.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Airman Certification Standards

  • Note: For ASEL or ASES, the evaluator must select at least four Tasks including Task A or B, Task C or D, and Tasks E and F from Area of Operation IX , Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers. For AMEL or AMES the evaluator must select at least Tasks A and E.
  • Task A: Steep Turns.
  • Objective: To determine the applicant understands steep turns, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-9, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/AFM
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • AI.IX.A.K1:
    Purpose of and procedures for steep turn.
  • AI.IX.A.K2:
    Pilot sensations and control forces.
  • AI.IX.A.K3:
    Aerodynamics associated with steep turns, including:
    • AI.IX.A.K3a:
      Maintaining coordinated flight
    • AI.IX.A.K3b:
      Overbanking tendencies
    • AI.IX.A.K3c:
      Maneuvering speed, including the impact of weight changes
    • AI.IX.A.K3d:
      Load factor and accelerated stalls
    • AI.IX.A.K3e:
      Rate and radius of turn
  • AI.IX.A.K4:
    Common errors related to this Task.
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
  • AI.IX.A.R1:
    Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
  • AI.IX.A.R2:
    Collision hazards.
  • AI.IX.A.R3:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
  • AI.IX.A.R4:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • AI.IX.A.R5:
    Uncoordinated flight.
Skills 6 ACS Elements
  • AI.IX.A.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • AI.IX.A.S2:
    Establish the manufacturer's recommended airspeed; or if one is not available, an airspeed not to exceed maneuvering speed (VA).
  • AI.IX.A.S3:
    Roll into a coordinated 360° steep turn with approximately a 50° bank.
  • AI.IX.A.S4:
    Perform the Task in the opposite direction.
  • AI.IX.A.S5:
    Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading ±10°.
  • AI.IX.A.S6:
    Analyze and correct common errors related to this Task.
Flight Instructor (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Effective instruction in steep Turns helps learners build sound judgment, technical competence, and safe operating habits.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.